Secrets of Angels & Demons: The Unauthorized Guide to the Bestselling Novel

This book is an excellent buy for anyone who would like to learn more about the places, artifacts, and secrets mentioned in Dan Brown's novel. Provides a lot of information from many different sources and allows the reader to draw their own conclusion based on the material presented. I recommend this to anyone who would like to learn more about the things covered in Angels & Demons.

The wide variety of viewpoints from numerous scholars was refreshing and informative. They clarified numerous 'facts' that had been (mildly) distorted by Dan Brown's novel. The book could stand on its own as a good read.

TO make it short, you must read Angels & Demons first. Done? OK, now you will understand this book. This is just a more in dept explanation of the "true" history of the Illuminati that is related to the book Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown. Most of the information was already given in Dan Browns book, but this one is more specific, deeper explanations, real good stuff. Although is not a MUST GET book, but for those fans of Angels and Demons and the Illuminati, this one you will enjoy. This book was also made as a 1 hr tv show in the A & E channel.

The success of Dan Brown's books isn't all based on his talent for writing - a lot of it has to do with his claim that the "facts" (historical, artistic, scientific, etc.) are actual facts. This book tests the various "facts" Dan Brown has written in Angels & Demons - in all relevant fields (Art, science, theology, etc), by inteviewing different experts in various aspects of these fields. While this isn't as fulfilling or as thorough as doing the research yourself - it does give nice background for people who don't have the time, inclenation, or resources to do the research themslves in very "down to earth" language.

The "secret" of bestselling author Dan Brown's books is his unmarked transitions from fact to fiction, a slight-of-word move that makes for a good read but often leaves you asking "Is that true?" Unless you know a LOT more about religion, ritual, symbolism, and other arcane areas than I do, this companion volume is essential. At the very least, it will keep you from losing a dinner party bet over what was and wasn't true in "Angels & Demons." "Secrets of Angels & Demons" redraws the missing line between fact and fiction through essays by many experts on the themes, events, controversies, rituals and symbols that are major plot points in "Angels & Demons." The author/editors of "Secrets" managed to find not just experts, but experts who could communicate well to the rest of us--well enough that their essays draw you in and make you want to know more. You leave each essay knowing what was true, what was made up, and what is simply as-yet unknown or in dispute. As with any collection of materials by many authors, the materials vary in depth, style, and readability, but the range is from good to great. In many ways, this book is as good or better a read than "Angels & Demons", to which it is an essential companion.